Make a Splash while Beating the Heat
Words Courtney Thomas | Photo from East Austin Hotel
Get ready to dive into summer where water slides meet shaded lap lanes and relaxation meets retro-chic vibes. There are plenty of reasons to cool down as the summer heats up with six watering holes offering lounging in the shade to fun in the sun.
Bartholomew Pool
This East Austin pool offers both thrills and relaxation for families. Featuring water slides and multiple pools, Bartholomew’s grounds also include picnic tables, changing tables, outdoor showers, and shade structures that offer visitors a respite from the sun. Admission is $5 for resident adults, even less for children and seniors, and free for veterans.
1800 E 51st St. | austintexas.gov/department/bartholomew-pool
East Austin Hotel
Take a day-cation and relax at the hotel’s retro Palm Springs-inspired pool. Outside food is not allowed, but poolside drinks and eats from Pool Bar and Second Bar + Kitchen more than make up for it. Free parking is available for pool guests in the hotel’s underground parking garage, and pool passes are $30 on weekdays and $40 on weekends. Availability is limited, so crowds are guaranteed to be small.
1108 E 6th St. | eastaustinhotel.com
Govalle Pool
Located within the Govalle Neighborhood Park on the Boggy Creek Greenbelt, this pool is shaded by both structures and mature trees. Recently remodeled, six lanes are available for lap swimming. Admission is free, and the pool is closed on Wednesdays (except for Juneteenth).
5200 Bolm Rd. | austintexas.gov/department/govalle-pool
Metz Pool & Splash Pad
Metz Park offers a no-frills pool and is adjoined by a shaded splash pad. Just a ten minute walk from the excellent food and drink offerings on East Cesar Chavez Street including Juiceland, it is also connected to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. Best of all, it is free admission for residents.
2400 Canterbury St. | austintexas.gov/department/metz-pool
Rosewood Pool & Splash Pad
Austinites have been swimming at Rosewood since 1930. Today, the park includes an extra large swimming pool, splash pad, changing area, covered showers, pirate-themed play structure, tennis courts, and more. Admission is free, and swim lessons occur twice a day. The pool is closed on Mondays.
2300 Rosewood Ave. | austintexas.gov/department/rosewood-pool
Ella Wooten Pool
Details like the ornamental metalwork on the gate and Lueders limestone on the bathhouse combine to make Ella Wooten Pool an elegant centerpiece to the Mueller neighborhood. Just beyond the gate are two swim lanes, 10 minutes of adult swim every hour, and a large shallow area for the littles to play. Free passes and extended hours are available to Mueller residents, and affordable passes are offered for non-residents to swim 4:30-10pm on weekdays and after 12pm on weekends.
2047 Pinckney St. | muellerpoa.com/pools
Coming Soon! Givens Aquatic Facility
First built in 1958 to serve East Austin’s Black residents, Givens Pool has long been a beloved gathering place, but the original pool ended its tenure in 2019 due to a substantial water leak. Yet, a new chapter for Givens will open soon. Renovations are scheduled to be completed in late summer of 2024. The newly remodeled Givens Aquatic Facility will include lap lanes, a spring board with a 12-and-a-half foot deep diving well, a new bathhouse, and a permanent artistic work born from the collaborations and creative research of “Givens Swims” partnership with Forklift Danceworks.
